welte



(No Model.) 4 Sheet-Sheet I.

E. WELTE.

MEGHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 578,-127. Patented Mar. 2, 1897.

.- A s W /VVEIVTOH 621 %y (No Model.) 4 Sheets--Sheet 2.

v E. WBLTE.

MEGHA'NIGAL MUSIOAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 578.127. Patented Mar. 2,' 1897.

INVENTOI? m: NoRms PTERS :04 mm (No-Model.)

. 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. E; WBLTE.

MEGHANIGAL MUSIGAL INSTRUMENT.

No. 578 ,l27.

Patented Mar. 2, 1897. TW& ?q w /VVEVTOR BY ATT ;275-

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4,

E. WELTE.

MECHANICAL MUSIGAL INSTRUMENT. No. 578, l 27. P atente d Mar. 2, 1897.

y l v I ATT EYJ'.

UNITED STATES EMIL XVELTE, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

NElV YORK, N. Y.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPEGIFICATION forning part of Letters Patent No. 578,12'7, dated March2, 1897.

Application filed February lZ, 1896. Serial No. 579,06l. (No model.)

TO (LZZ 'whom 'z may coucern:

Be it known that I, EMIL lVELTE, a citizen of the Empire of Germany,residing in the city, county, and Sta-te of New York,have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in mechanical musicalinstrunents, such as pi pe-organs, orchestrions, and similarinstruments, in which not only an improved Wind-chest of extra size isused in connection wi th an eXhaust-cl1est,but-in which improvedpneumatic-actions for the registers and for the Valves of the soundingdevices are employed and actuated in connection with the wind-chest andeXhaust-chest, so that a more compact arrangement of thepneumatic-actions relatively to the registers and sounding devices and asinpler Construction and an easier working of said pneunatic-actions isobtained; and the invention consists of a mechanical musical instrumentcomprising the pneuniatic-actions of the registers and of the valves ofthe sounding devices, a wind-chest extending over the register-actionsand the diaphragms of the valves of the sounding devices, aneXhaust-chest below the pneunatic register and valve actions, d uctsleading from said register and valve actions to the registerpneumaticsand to the diaphragms of the valves of the sounding devices, saidpneunatics being actuated by the register-actions, and means forconnecting the pneumatics with the valves of the sounding devices, andof certain features of construction and comhinations of parts to befully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the clains.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 represents a vertical transversesection through the wind-chest and suction-ehest of a Inechanicalmusical instrument, showing one of the pneunatic register-actions andthe connection of the same with the tracker and its perfora-tedmusic-sheet and with a manual-key. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing therelative ar.- rangement of the pneunatic register-actions and thepneumatic valve-actions of the sounding devices to the ducts and valvesof the sounding devices. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section ofthe parts below the windchest on the line 3 3, Fig. 2, and of the partswithin and above the wind-chest, also in vertical longitudinal section,but in a different vertical plane from the lower part; and Fig. t is avertical longitudinal section online i 4, Fig. 2,

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding` parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the wind-chest, to which air issupplied under pressu re from the hellows and from which air underpressure is supplied to the different pneunatic actions, ducts,registers, and valves of an organ, orohestrion, or other musicalinstrument.

The wind-chest A is arranged below the ducts leading to the reeds,pipes, and other sounding` devices S and extended over the pneumaticvalve-actions, the register-bellows, and the diaphragm-valves of thesounding devices, a larger or smaller number of registers being usedaccording to the number of rows of sound ing devices in the instrument.lVhenever any one of the reeds or pipes is to be sounded, the bellows ofits register, as well as the valve of the special sounding device,has tobe opened, so as to supply the required quantity of air from thewind-chest and produce the sounding of the reed, pipe, or other soundingdevice. This is accomplished by means of separate ducts B', whichconnect the pneunatic-actions B with the different registers, saidactions being arranged in line with the pneumatic-actions C for theValves of the sounding devices. One register-action B is provided fortwo register-ducts and one Valveaction for every duct C' of the soundingdevices, as shown clearly in plan View in Fig. 2.

The pneumatic-actions for the registers and for the valves of thesounding devices are arranged at the central portion of the windchest A,the ranges or rows of sounding devices being grouped in any suitablenanner at both sides of said pneunatic-actions, as required by thespecial instrument. All the pneunatic-actions B and C of the instrumentare so arranged relatively to the wind-chest A and to an eXhaust-chestE, which is located below said actions, that the pressure of thecompressed air as well as the suction of the air operate together on thevalves of said actions and assist thereby in the quick and effectiveworking of the same. The exhaust- IOC) chest E is connected with thesuction-bellows, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and by special ducts c e,passing through the bottom of said eXhaust-chest, either with a trackerand a perforated music-sheet moving over said tracker or withmanual-keys, as shown in Fig. l, according as the instrument is to beplayed either neehanically or as an ordinary organ by keys and stops. Asthe wind-chest A extends over the pneumatie-actions B O and over thediaphragms of the valves of the sounding devices, it is ofcon'paratively large size, while the exhaust-chestE, which extends onlybelow the pneumatic-actions E C, is of conparatively small size. Thewind-chest is thereby enabled to supply all the actions and individualsounding devices with air in a uniform and reliable manner.

The Pncmatic-Acton of the Register&

Each register is connected by an independent duet B' with its pneumaticregister-action B, which is located in a proper relative positionthereto, the valves of said aetions extending from the wind-chest A intothe eX- haust-chest. Each register-action B is composed of two valves, asetting-valve and an actuating-valve, the stems of which are suspendedby means of adj ustable buttons b from an oseillatingcentrally-fulcrumed lever b', which is supported on a shelf b located ontop of the exhaust-chest, as shown clearly in Flg. The actuating andsetting valves of the register-action are each composed of two ordinaryvalves b h and b b", respectively, which are attached to the valve-stemwith their faces toward each other, and of a diaphragm t which isattached to the lower end of the valve-stem, said diaphragm-valveextending over a ehamber which is connected by the d uct e' with thetracker or manual-key. On each side of each diaphragm b is located asmall duet bfiwhich eonneets the space below the diaphragm b with theeXhaust-chest E, so as to permit the escape of the air from the spacebelow the diaphragm, as soon as the connection with the tracker andmusic-sheet or manual-key is interrupted, and the return of thediaphragm to its normal position.

The actuating-Valve of each register-action B serves for opening orelosing the registerduets 1-3', connected therewith, while thesetting-Valve has no connection with any duet, but only with thewind-chest and exhaustchest, and serves for setting the actuatingvalve,which on being set into open position places the register-duet incommunication with the eXhaust-chest and produces thereby the actuationof a series of bellows or pneumatics 13 one for each sounding deviee inthe range controlled bythe register. All the bellows B* controlled byone register are simultaneously acted upon bythe air-pressure in thewind-chest A and the suction of the exhaust-ehest E, so as to be quicklyact uated. Each bellows or pneumatic B is connected by a forkedextension-arm b with one ot the valves of the range of sounding devicescontrolled by the register-duet B', so as to hold said valve in closedposition. Consequently none of the sounding devices controlled by theregister can be sounded when the bellows of the register are actuatedbyits pnenmaticaction B.

hen it is desired to restore the register bellows or pneunatics B totheir normal position, so that the valves of the sounding devicesconnected therewith can be released and the latter sounded, air ispermitted to enter through one of the openings in the perforat-edmusic-sheet to the duet e, connecting the tracker with the space belowthe (liaphragm of the actuating-Valve of the register-action B. Thesuction of the exhaustchest causes then the lifting ot' the actuatingvalve, so that the connection of the registerduet B'with theeXhaust-chest is interrupted and simultaneously by the oscillating leverb' the setting-valve and its diaphragm lowered, so that the valves ofthe action assume the position shown in Fig. 1, whereby instantly allthe bellows or pneumatics 13 of the register controlled by the duet B'are expanded by their sprin gs and the valves of the entire range ofsounding devices controlled by the register released.

The changing motion of the actuating and setting valves of theregister-action B is l'acilitated by the pressure of the air in thewind-chest on the upper valves b b and by the suction of theexhaust-chest on the diaphragm ?J at the lower end of theactuatingvalve. The upper openings of the setting as well as of theactuatin g valve of the registeraction B are slightly enlarged, as shownin Fig. 3, so that the raising or loweringof said valves is facilitatedby the difference in pressures exerted on the same by the air in thewind-chest, and thereby the changing in the positions ot' the valvesquickly accomplished. XVhen anyone of the registers is actuated by itscontrolling valve-aetion, the bellows of the register retain the valvesof the entire range of sounding devices controlled by the register andprevent the sounding of any one of said sounding devices, while any oneof the sounding devices in the remaining registers can be sounded. `Whennone ol' the registers are aetuated, as is the case in special forteparts of a music-piece, then all the registers are open and any soundingdevice in any one of the registers can be sounded.

The Pncmnatz'c-Aclions of the ;Somali ;m Devces.

Separate pneumatic-actions C and ducts C' connect the eXhaust-chest Ewith the valves j" of the sounding devices, as shown in Fig. 4. Theconstruction ofthe actions C for the valves of the sounding devices issimilar to that of the register-actions B--that is to say, each valve iscomposed of two individual valves (Z (Z, which are applied to theValvesten with their faces toward each other, so

IOO

IIO

as to close the upper and lower openings of the ducts C' and of adiaphragn (W, applicd to the lower end of the stern. The space below thediaphragni d' is connected by a separate duct 6 with the tracker ormanual-key. Small side ducts d connect the space below the diaphragm d'with the exhaustchest. The upper end of the stem of each valve C isSuspended from-the free end of a spring d against the tension of whichthe pneumaticaction is set into open or closed position. As soon as theatmospheric air enters through the duet 6 froni the tracker or key intothe space below the diaphragm d' the valve C is raised by the suctionaction of the exhaustchest, the exhaust is shut off from the duct C',and air under pressure passed from the wind-chest A through the duet C@so that an equilibrium of pressure is established on both sides of thediaphragms of the valves of the sounding devices, Whereby the springs atthe upper endsof the valves can lift the same into raised position readyfor the actuation of the sounding devices, as shown at the right-handside of Fig. 4:. As soon as the atmospheric pressure is removed from thediaphragm (Z of the action C the air quickly passes 'from the spacebelow the diaphragn through the small relief-duct CF into theeXhaust-chest, and the diaphragm, as wellas the valve C, is lowered, sothat the uppervalve d closes the duct C' by the pressure of the air inthe wind-chest The access of air into the duct C is therebyinterrupted,and all the diaphragms of the sounding devices are lowered by thesimultaneous pressure of the air in the wind-chest and by the suctionaction of the eXhaust-chest, so that the valves of the sounding devicesare held in closed position against the tension of their springs.

The valves F of the sounding devices are composed of a stem f, a valve fon said stern, a button f adj ustable 011 the uppcr end of the stem f, ahelical spring f interposed between the bottom of a Valve-cap f* foreach valve F, and a diaphragni f to which the lower end of the stern isattached. The duet C' communicates with the space below the diaphragm fabove which a cushion f of felt or other soft material, is arranged forthe extension-arni b of the bellows 13 The helical spring f assistsmainly in opening the valve F, so as to produce the quick actuation ofthe sounding device when the pneumaticaction O is raised, as shown atthe right-hand side of Fig. 4.

In some cases, especially when extra pressure is required for thesounding devices, such as the reeds of brass instruments and the like,the modified valve Construction shown at the upper right-hand side ofFigs. 3 and 4: is used. This Valve is intended for the purpose ofpreventing the objectionable prolongation of the sound, due to thegradual cessation of the pressure in the trunk of the sounding device.This is accomplished by an airduct f which extends through the cover ofthe structure, so that the valve-cup f is connected with the atmosphere.In this case in place of a helical spring a spiral spring f s employed,which has larger convolutions at the lower than at the upper end. Theupper valve f' used in this case is ar *anged as a double valve, whichis adapted for closing or opening the duet leading to the soundingdevice, as well as for opening or closing the opening in the bottom ofthe valve-cup f which communicates with the air-ductfi passing to theatmosphere. hen the valve f is closed and the sound of the soundingdevicc interrupted, the body of air still contained in the duet leadingto the sounding device and in the tru nk of the sounding device has achance to pass off instantly to the atmosphere, so that the extrapressure on the sounding device is relieved, and consequently theobjectionable and annoying prolongation of the sound immediately andeffectively obviated.

The advantages of in y improved pneunaticactions 'for musicalinstruments are, first, the i'acility by which the bellows or pncumaticsof the registers, as well as the valves of the sounding devices, areactuated by the joint action of the air under pressure in the windchestand the suction action of the exhaustchest on the actions of theregister and on the valves of the sou n ding devices; seeondly, thecompaet arrangement of the actions for the registers and valves of thesounding devices, by which considerable space is saved, inasmuch as allthe actions are arranged cen trall y to the different registcrs andsounding devices; thirdly, owing to the arrangement ot' a wind-chest oflarge size which extends over the action-valves, as well as over theregister-bellows and over the diaphragms of the valves of all thesounding devices, the re- IOO quired quantity of air necessary forsounding any one of the same can be readily supplied from the wind-chestwithout affecting the pressure of the air in the wind-chest, so that auniform supply of air to the soundin g device is provided whether alarger or smaller number of the same are actuated at one time; fourthly,the Construction of the pneumatic register-actions, as well as thepneumatic-actions of the valves of the sounding devices, is greatlysimplified, so that the expense of the instruments can be considerablyredueed, and thereby a mechanically-played pipe-organ or orchestrionplaced within the reach of people of moderate means; fifthly, by thesimultaneous action of the compressed air in the wind-chest and thesuction action of the exhaust-chest on the bellows and diaphragmvalvesof the actions of the registers and valves of the sounding devices aquicker response of the bellows and valves of the instrument isobtained, and the same thereby played with greater case and perfection.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- IIO 1. In a pneumatic musical instrument, theconbination, with the pneunatic-actions of the registers and for thevalves of the sounding devices, of a wind-chest extending over theregister-actions and the diaphragms of the valves of the soundingdevices, an exhaust-chest below the pneunatic register and valveactions, ducts leading fron said register and valve actions to theregister-phennatics and to the diaphragns ot' the valves of the soundingdevices, said pneumaties being actuated by the register -aetions, andmeans for connecting the pneumatics with the valves of the soundingdevices, substantially as set forth.

'2. The combination, with a number of registers, of a pneunatc-actionfor each register, each action being conposed of a setting and actuatingvalve, acentrally-fulcrunied lever connecting the setting and actuatingvalves of each action, a wind-chest extending` above thepneunatic-actions of the registers, an eXhaust-chest located below saidaetions, ducts connecting` the wind and exhaust chests with theregister-pneunaties, and pneu n atics aetuated by said actions andadapted to retain or release the valves of the sounding devices,substantially as set forth.

3. In a pneunatic-action for the registers of organs, and similarinstruments, the combination of a setting-Valve connected with adiaphragm at its lower end, an actuating-valve also connected with adiaphragn at its lower end, a eentrally-fulcruned lever conneeting theupper ends of the setting and actuating Valves, and duets leading fronithe actuating- Valves to the registers, the upper portions of saidValves being located in the wind-chest and the lower parts of saidvalves in the eX- haust-chest, substantially as set forth.

4. In a pneunatic-aetion for the registers of organs and similarinstrunents, the combination of a register-action conposed of a setting-valve and an actuating-valve a cent'allyfulcruined lever eonnectingthe upper ends of the setting and aetuating valves, and ducts leadingfroni the wind and exhaust ehests to the registers, the ends oi' said duets terminatng in the wind-chest being made sonewhat larger than theends terninating in the exhaust-ehest for facilitating the actuations oftheregister-Val ves, substantially as set forth.

5. The conbination, with the sounding` devices and the Valves of thesame, of pneunatieactions for Operating the valves of said soundingdevices, ducts leading` from the pn eu naticactions to said valves, awind-chest extending over said pneunatic-actions and the diaphragns ofthe valves of said sounding devices, and an eXhaust-chest located belowsaid valve-actions, the wind-chest and exhaustchest being connected withthe duets leading fron the pneunatic-actions to the Valves of thesounding devices, substantially as set forth.

0. A valve for the sounding, devices requirin g a heavypressure of air,such as tru npets dac., eonsisting of a stern, a double ValVe on theupper part of said stern, a diaphragn at the lower end of the stern, avalve-cup open at the botton and connected at its upper part with theatnosphere, a button at the upper end of the stern, and a spring betweenthe button and the bottom of the valVe-eup, substantially as set forth.

In testinony that I claim the foregoing` as my inventon I have signed nyname in presence of two subseribing witnesses.

EMIL lVELTE. lVitn esses:

PAUL GOEPEL, GEO. W. JAEKEL.

